Handelsbanken will launch its 100th British branch today. The Swedish community bank says the branch, in the West Yorkshire spa town of Ilkley, will open in the next few weeks when local staff have been recruited.

Last year the bank announced the opening of 27 UK branches. It already employs more than 800 staff nationwide.

Anders Bouvin, the UK chief of Handelsbanken, said: "This milestone has been reached thanks to us sticking to our knitting, offering traditional community banking based on close personal relationships with customers."